Franklin

MP

Julie Collins (ALP) since 2007. Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Community Services, Status of Women and Indigenous Employment and Economic Development.

Profile

Franklin covers 6,514 square kilometres, the physical area of the electorate dominated by the largely unpopulated wilderness in the southern parts of the state's world heritage area. Franklin surrounds and is split into two parts by the electorate of Denison. On the eastern shore of the Derwent, Franklin includes Clarence City and parts of Brighton, together providing 57.4% of Franklin's voters. South of Denison lies Kingston and other parts of Kingborough Municipality that makes up 27.6% of Franklin's population, the balance of 15% in rural Huon Valley council to the south. Franklin also includes remote Macquarie Island. (Map)

Background

This electorate is named after Sir John Franklin, Lieutenant-Governor of Tasmania 1837-43, but a man better known to history for his death in the Canadian Arctic while leading a expedition in search of the north-west passage. Former members for Franklin include Bruce Goodluck, who was first elected in 1975 having built a high profile on Clarence Council in trying to resolve the transport problems for eastern shore residents following the collapse of the Tasman Bridge. He built a reputation as a quirky local member in Canberra, best remembered for once wearing a chicken suit into the House of Representatives.

On his retirement in 1993, the Liberal Party attempted to recruit well known local state MP Peter Hodgman as its new candidate, but Hodgman was re-buffed by local party members. Franklin was won in 1993 by Labor's Harry Quick, who in his time turned out to be almost as quirky for Labor as Goodluck had been for the Liberal Party.

Quick announced his retirement well ahead of the 2007 election, giving Labor time to select a replacement. When it appeared unionist Kevin Harkins was set to win party endorsement, Quick threatened to campaign against Harkins and the Labor Party instead chose Julie Collins, who was easily elected in 2007 and re-elected 2010.

Campaign Updated

A Reachtel poll reported in the third weekend of the campaign had Labor leading narrowly with only 50.6% after preferences.

2013 Ballot Paper (7 Candidates)

Candidate Name

Party

COLLINS, Julie

Australian Labor Party

ZUCCO, Marti

Palmer United Party

BLACK, Bernadette

Liberal

DOWNES, Josh

Family First

UGALDE, Sarah

Katter's Australian Party

WOODRUFF, Rosalie

Australian Greens

BOWDEN, Olwyn

Rise Up Australia Party

Candidates

Julie Collins

Australian Labor Party

42 year-old Collins first joined the Labor Party in 1988, about the time she started working for the party as an administrative assistant. She has since worked as an administrative officer, electoral staffer and political adviser for a range of Labor MPs. She was State Secretary of the Tasmanian Labor Party before her election in 2007 and had previously contested Denison unsuccessfully at the 2006 state election. Collins was appointed a Parliamentary Secretary after the 2010 election and entered the outer Ministry in November 2012. She had Housing and Homelessness added to her portfolios when Kevin Rudd resumed as Prime Minister.

Marti Zucco

Palmer United Party

From an Italian migrant background, Zucco grew up Melbourne in a family of bakers and his brother Vince is said to have opened one of Melbourne's first Pizza shops. Vince later opened Hobart's first pizza shop and Marti joined him in Hobart in 1974 after a period of travel. Marti Zucco opened his own shop in North Hobart and now runs his own hospitality business including the North Hobart Italian restaurant that carries his name. Zucco serves on Hobart City Council and is currently the council's longest serving Alderman. He has previously contested Tasmanian Legislative Council elections.

Bernadette Black

Liberal

Black is well known for her book 'Brave Little Bear' tracking her personal journey from falling pregnant and becoming a 16-year-old mother through to being a Registered Nurse and gaining post-graduate qualifications. Now adding professional speaker to her repertoire, Black was the Barnardos Australian Mother of the year in 2009 and was nominated for Australian of the Year. She is the founding Director of Brave Foundation, a not for profit charity with the ethos 'from unplanned pregnancy to happy and healthy families.'

Josh Downes

Family First

Downes completed a Bachelor of Geomatics at the University of Tasmania in 2007, winning the John M. Harwin Memorial prize. He currently works as an engineering surveyor and his work has taken him across Tasmania as well as to other states. Downes has also been a private in the Australian Army Reserve, is Adjutant for the Tasmanian Lighthorse Historical Troop, and a member of the Australian Sporting Shooters Association and the Huon Combined Shooting Club.